CURRENT LITERATURE.
The Portfolio—January. (Seeley and Co.)—By some mischance, we did not receive the Porifblio in time for an earlier notice. It deserves the warmest and most immediate greeting at our command. From the first, it has stood almost alone as really "an artistic periodical," and the first number for the new year shows increased confidence on the part of the editor in there being a public sufficiently large to reward enter- prise of so intelligent and cultivated a kind. The first plate is an etch- ing by Lo Rat of Raphael's "St. Catharine," accompanied by valuable notes from Mr. Wornnm. This forms one of the noble series of "Etch- ings from the National Gallery" which we owe to the Portfolio. But by far the most charming things in this number, to our thinking, are the etchings and other sketches in St. Alban's. The full-page view by Mr. Ernest George fairly takes one by surprise as an example of this revived art, both in what it expresses and what it suggests it is equally admirable. If any one prefers the more light-hearted" style of the modern French school, we may refer him to M. Lurat's etching of "Meditation," after M. Voly. It is surprising to hear that this is a maiden effort. It appears, to our untrained eye, a marvel of light and shade, we had almost said of colour. An hour spent over the Portfolio is one of refreshment, encouragement, and unalloyed delight ; and we can think of no better educator of the public taste than this truly admirable periodical.
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